The National Federation of Independent Business runs with the tagline "The Voice of Small Business," but a group of Congressional leaders are challenging the group's interests. This, while the NFIB spearheads the fight to overturn President Obama's health care reform act, in a case awaiting a Supreme Court ruling.
The co-chairs of the Democratic Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC) sent a letter Tuesday to NFIB president Dan Danner, questioning the NFIB's claim that it represents small business interests. The letter, written by Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva (D., Ariz.) and Rep. Keith Ellison (D., Minn.), says donations that the NFIB has received undermine its claims to be a non-partisan small business advocacy group.
In a statement, the lawmakers called into question whether the NFIB "actually represents major corporations and conservative political interests." In particular, they're questioning a $3.7 million donation from a group Crossroads GPS whose parent organization cites Republican political strategist Karl Rove as its adviser.
The letter requested details on how that money was spent, and called on the NFIB to disclose all contributions it received over the past three years. The lawmakers also want a list of NFIB members, membership fees and details on any donations those members have made to the organization.
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"The Affordable Care Act, or 'ObamaCare,' is a major accomplishment that is already benefiting millions of Americans. The fact that the NFIB has asked the highest court in the land to review the law -- and possibly overturn it -- means relevant information about participants should be disclosed," Rep. Ellison said in a statement.
The NFIB does not plan to disclose its donor list, amounts of donations or its member list, according to Jean Card, a spokesperson for the NFIB.
"We are representing our membership well and per their wishes," Card says. "The underlying charge of this letter is unfounded."
Card says that the $3.7 million donation from Crossroads GPS was "absolutely not" used to fund the health care lawsuit. The money was used to pay for advertisements promoting issues important to NFIB members in the 2010 Congressional election cycle, she says.
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The implication that the NFIB is not independent and is championing conservative political issues is not true, says Card.
The health care reform act, officially called the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act was signed into law in 2010, but most provisions don't go into effect until 2014. It will require businesses with more than 50 employees, working 30 hours a week on average, provide health-care coverage or pay an annual fine of up to $3,000 per employee (called the employer mandate). The individual mandate will require nearly all individuals to pay for their own health coverage or pay a fee. The NFIB calls the reform "job-killing."
Conversely, small businesses represented by the Main Street Alliance, a Seattle, Wash.-based advocacy organization, say that the health care reform would benefit their business.
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Do you think the NFIB should disclose its list of members and donations? Why or why not? Share your approach and respond to other readers in the comments below.
Read more stories about: Healthcare, Congress, NFIB, Politics, Health-care law
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Comments:
Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing.
Well every business has been effected since after 9/11 but still there are those who are bringing forth forth their businesses and their undoubted skills in making the country. And playing a key role in the development of the nation.
The Obama Health care is one of the most partisan pieces of legislation and these Democrats are complaining about lack of nonpartisanship by NFIB. How hypocritical! These Democrats face a similar challenge to Diogenes, walking the nation with a lantern looking for the small business owner in support of Obama Care.
Absolutely Not! The NFIB is doing the right thing by not disclosing its membership for specifically 2 reasons. First, this request is unfounded. The NFIB has existed for over 60 years and their policy of membership driven political positions is well established. Liberals know this, if they voted FOR small business, they'd get small business support. It's not a party issue, it's a idealogical issue. 2nd, the long established policy of not making its membership list available to 3rd parties is also well known. Grow up, Liberals, vote FOR small business ( THE job creators ) and you wouldn't be fighting with NFIB.
The writer spends more time trying to demonstrate that the NFIB is conservative (gasp! The horror!) than she does trying to proving her implication that Obamacare would be anything but problematic for small businesses.